Tongue depressor dispenser



June 7, 1938. J. D. FUSELIER 2,119,912

TONGUE DEPRESSOR DISPENSER Filed Aug.-25, 1937 llllll INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, and its general object is to provide a device of that character, including a cabinet with dispensing means therein and which is primarily designed for housing and individually dispensing tongue depressors or blades, so that the depressors are not only kept free from dirt, dust and foreign matter, but are dispensed in a manner whereby one end portion of a depressor extends from the cabinet to be readily gripped,- therefore the remaining portion thereof is not handled and is retained in a clean and sanitary condition'until used.

A further object is to provide a dispensing cabinet for tongue depressors that can be readily loaded therewith and dispensed therefrom in an easy and expeditious manner.

Another object is to provide a dispensing cabinet that-is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely efficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, ref erence will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing cabinet which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, with parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line .4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that my dispensing device includes a cabinet in the form of a closed casing i which is elongated and relatively narrow and has an open upper end that is closed by a flange cover or cap 2. Attached to the rear wall of the casing is a plate 3 which has its ends bent to provide apertured tongues 4 to receive suitable securing means for securing the cabinet in position for use, to a wall or the like.

Removably mounted within the casing is what I term a receptor, which is of a shape and size to slidably flt therein, to be readily removed therefrom, and the receptor includes side walls 5 open as at 6 and have their lower ends resting upon the bottom of the casing, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3. The front wall I of the receptor is inclined rearwardly for the major portion of its height and the lower portion thereof is inclined forwardly as at 8, while the rear wall 9 is inclined forwardly for the major portion of its height for cooperation with the rearwardly inclined portion of the front wall to guide the tongue depressors or blades It) in a manner whereby they can be readily dispensed by the dispensing means which will be presently described. The rear wall 9 at its lower end includes a shouldered portion II, that is rearwardly directed and thence depends from the shoulder thereof to provide a portion 12 which likewise rests upon the bottom of the casing, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The receptor includes a bottom in the form of a strip l3 that is reduced for the major portion of its length to provide a guide It for what 1 term a carriage l5 that is slidably mounted on the guide and is limited in its forward movement by shoulders l6 provided by the reduced portion of the bottom strip, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The carriage is in the form of a sleeve that is disposed about the guide It for fitting, sliding association therewith, and formed on the rear edge of the upper portion of the sleeve carriage is a tongue l'l that is normally disposed in a pocket provided by the shouldered portion of the rear wall 9, as shown in Figure 2, so that when a depressor or blade I0 is resting upon the carriage, the rear thereof is arranged in the path of the tongue.

Secured to the underside of the carriage is a rod I8 which includes a rearwardly directed portion I!) that terminates in a hook 20, the hook having one end of a coil spring 2| secured thereto while its opposite end is secured to an eye 22 fixed to the depending portion l2. The forward portion of the rod terminates in a threaded end to which is threadedly secured a handle 23, for detachment therefrom to allow removal of the receptor and dispensing unit from the casing as the handle together with the forward portion of the rod is slidably mounted through an opening 24 in the front wall 25 of the casing, the handle being in the form of a hook to facilitate the operation of the dispensing means, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 1.

The front wal1 25 also has a slot 26 therein disposed in the path of the lowermost depressor or blade II and itwill be obvious from the force going and disclosure of the drawing, that when the handle is pulled forwardly, the tongue II will,

I contact the rear end of the lowermost depressor and eject the same through the slot 26, therefore the depressors areindividually dispensed and in a manner whereby a forward end portion thereot can be readily gripped, as clearly shown in Figure 1. when the handle is released, the spring ll moves the carriage to its normal position,

with the tongue arranged in the pocket to engage the rear end of the next depressor.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features oi! the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be having a slot in, the front wall thereof, are-- ceptor for receiving the depressors and removably housed within the casing, said receptor including walls having inwardly inclined portions providing guides for the depressors, a strip providing the bottom 01 the receptor and reduced for the major portion of its length to provide a guide having shoulders at the forward end thereof, a

spring pressed carriage slidably mounted on the guide and engageable with the shoulders to limit the movement thereof, a tongue formed on the rear end of the carriage and engageable with the lowermost depressor for ejecting the latter partially through the slot upon movement of the carriage against the action 0! the spring, handled a means secured to the carriage and extending 4 through. the casing, andthe handle of said hany dled means being removable therefrom;

2. A dispensing cabinet for tongue depressors,

, comprising a relatively narrow elongated casing having a slot in the front wall thereof, a receptor for receiving the depressors and removably housed within the casing, a strip providing the bottom of the receptor and including areduced portion providing a guide and shoulders at the forward end thereof, a carriage in the form of a sleeve mounted forslidable movement about and on the guide and limited in its forward movement by the shoulders, a tongue on the rear end of the carriage and engageable with the lowermost depressor for ejecting the latter through the slot, handled means extending'through the casing for moving the carriage in an ejecting direction, and

spring means secured to the handled means and the receptor for moving the carriage in an opposite direction and the handle of said handled means being removable therefrom.

JULIUS D. FUSELIER. 

